Variegated Cherry Gun Box

Friend of mine just got a nice Colt 1911 and I made this storage box today (about an hour from raw roughcut 1×6 x 18 to final glue up).

The wood is varagated cherry cutoff – the warp started with the sapwood. It was planed smooth (but not super flat) and the divided in two, one wide (5-1/2”) end for the top & bottom and two narrow (2”) rips from the other half.

The slabs were resawn to 5/16” from each side and then sanded to remove any bumps.

The box outer dims are 8-1/2” x 5-3/4” x 2”

The end slot is cut 1/32” narrower the the side slots. The top is sloped on the underside so it rides up on the end dado and jams sufficiently to hold the top in place.

The ‘burn mark on the top of the end is not a burn mark, rather it is a spot of natural coloration.

I only exposed one bead from my triple bead bit to cut the bottom detail. It gives the box a little elevation.

Mark, You have made a beautiful box and have let the wood speak for itself. Nice work. I like your flush top and bottom design. The pattern in the cherry top and bottom is beautiful. If you would have used 45 degree corner joints the holes for your dado slots would not show. I also found that putting rare earth magnets at the handle-end helped to hold the box lid in place when it was closed. in the interest of sharing ideas, this is what I am talking about. It is easier to explain this concept with pictures than it is with words.